ANP29001 Physics of Complex Liquids and Soft Matters

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences

Lecture Code ANP29001 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 複雑液体・ソフトマター論

Subject Name
（Katakana）フクザツエキタイ・ソフトマターロン

Subject Name in
English Physics of Complex Liquids and Soft Matters

Instructor MUNEJIRI SHUJI,TANAKA SHINPEI,TAGUCHI KEN,KAJIHARA YUKIO

Instructor
(Katakana) ムネジリ　シュウジ,タナカ　シンペイ,タグチ　ケン,カジハラ　ユキオ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 4th-Year,  First Semester,  1Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (1T) Tues1-2,Fri3-4：IAS H110

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face, Online (simultaneous interactive), Online (on-demand)

Lecture-oriented class. In principle, classes will be held face-to-face. Online or on-demand classes may be held, depending on needs and circumstances.

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction J : Japanese

Course Level 4 : Undergraduate Advanced

Course Area（Area） 25 : Science and Technology

Course Area（Discipline） 06 : Physics

Eligible Students 4th year student

Keywords Physics, thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, liquid metals, macromolecules, colloids, rheology

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students) Condensed matter physics, which studies the properties of matter, sometimes refers to solid state physics, which is concerned with crystals in a narrow sense.
On the other hand, not all of the materials in the world are crystalline, and there are far more other materials than crystals.
Needless to say, it is important to study them.
In this class, we will learn the basics and research methods of complex liquids and soft matters, which are not crystalline (long-periodic), and link them to actual research.
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students) Integrated Arts and Sciences
（Knowledge and Understanding）
・Knowledge and understanding of the importance and characteristics of each discipline and basic theoretical framework.
（Abilities and Skills）
・The ability and skills to specify necessary theories and methods for consideration of issues.

Class Objectives
/Class Outline In this course, the physical properties of complex liquids and soft matters, along with their research methods, are introduced.

Class Schedule Lesson 1: Introduction(Munejiri)
Lesson 2: Order and disorder (Munejiri)
Lesson 3: Perfect gas and perfect crystal (Munejiri)
Lesson 4: Pure liquid, mixed liquid and amorphous solid (Munejiri)
Lesson 5: Liquid structure (Munejiri)
Lesson 6: Phase transitions and critical phenomena of liquids (Kajihara)
Lesson 7: Phase transitions and critical phenomena of liquids (Kajihara)
Lesson 8: Phase transitions and critical phenomena of liquids (Kajihara)
Lesson 9: Polymer physics (Taguchi)
Lesson10: Polymer physics (Taguchi)
Lesson11: Polymer physics (Taguchi)
Lesson12: Reaction-Diffusion Systems 1 (Tanaka)
Fundamentals of Reaction–Diffusion Systems and Nonequilibrium Steady States
  * Deriving reaction–diffusion equations
  * Physical intuition for nonequilibrium steady states
  * Nondimensionalization and characteristic length/time scales
Lesson13: Reaction-Diffusion Systems 2 (Tanaka)
Local Reaction Dynamics — Fixed Points, Hopf Bifurcations, and Excitability
  * Phase-plane analysis of two-variable reaction kinetics
  * Hopf bifurcation and the emergence of limit cycles
  * Mechanisms of excitability
Lesson14: Reaction-Diffusion Systems 3 (Tanaka)
Theory of Reaction–Diffusion Waves
  * Wave generation by diffusive spatial coupling
  * Pulse propagation in excitable media
  * Reflection, pinning, and breakup of waves
Lesson15: Reaction-Diffusion Systems 4 (Tanaka)
Spatiotemporal Order in Excitable Media
  * The Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction
  * Formation mechanisms of target and spiral waves

The reports will be assigned by each teacher. You should answer both one of the problems of liquids and one of those of soft matter.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. The textbook and reference books will be indicated as required.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Text, Handouts, Microsoft Teams, moodle

(More Details) Textbook, reference books, and PowerPoint

Learning techniques to be incorporated Post-class Report

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Prepare and review for the subjects.

Requirements

Grading Method Your grade will be determined on the following factors:
Report 50% and in-class work 50%.

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences
Lecture Code	ANP29001	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	複雑液体・ソフトマター論
Subject Name （Katakana）	フクザツエキタイ・ソフトマターロン
Subject Name in English	Physics of Complex Liquids and Soft Matters
Instructor	MUNEJIRI SHUJI,TANAKA SHINPEI,TAGUCHI KEN,KAJIHARA YUKIO
Instructor (Katakana)	ムネジリ　シュウジ,タナカ　シンペイ,タグチ　ケン,カジハラ　ユキオ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	4th-Year, First Semester, 1Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(1T) Tues1-2,Fri3-4：IAS H110
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face, Online (simultaneous interactive), Online (on-demand)
Lecture-oriented class. In principle, classes will be held face-to-face. Online or on-demand classes may be held, depending on needs and circumstances.
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	4 : Undergraduate Advanced
Course Area（Area）	25 : Science and Technology
Course Area（Discipline）	06 : Physics
Eligible Students	4th year student
Keywords	Physics, thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, liquid metals, macromolecules, colloids, rheology
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)	Condensed matter physics, which studies the properties of matter, sometimes refers to solid state physics, which is concerned with crystals in a narrow sense. On the other hand, not all of the materials in the world are crystalline, and there are far more other materials than crystals. Needless to say, it is important to study them. In this class, we will learn the basics and research methods of complex liquids and soft matters, which are not crystalline (long-periodic), and link them to actual research.
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)	Integrated Arts and Sciences （Knowledge and Understanding）・Knowledge and understanding of the importance and characteristics of each discipline and basic theoretical framework. （Abilities and Skills）・The ability and skills to specify necessary theories and methods for consideration of issues.
Class Objectives /Class Outline	In this course, the physical properties of complex liquids and soft matters, along with their research methods, are introduced.
Class Schedule	Lesson 1: Introduction(Munejiri) Lesson 2: Order and disorder (Munejiri) Lesson 3: Perfect gas and perfect crystal (Munejiri) Lesson 4: Pure liquid, mixed liquid and amorphous solid (Munejiri) Lesson 5: Liquid structure (Munejiri) Lesson 6: Phase transitions and critical phenomena of liquids (Kajihara) Lesson 7: Phase transitions and critical phenomena of liquids (Kajihara) Lesson 8: Phase transitions and critical phenomena of liquids (Kajihara) Lesson 9: Polymer physics (Taguchi) Lesson10: Polymer physics (Taguchi) Lesson11: Polymer physics (Taguchi) Lesson12: Reaction-Diffusion Systems 1 (Tanaka) Fundamentals of Reaction–Diffusion Systems and Nonequilibrium Steady States * Deriving reaction–diffusion equations * Physical intuition for nonequilibrium steady states * Nondimensionalization and characteristic length/time scales Lesson13: Reaction-Diffusion Systems 2 (Tanaka) Local Reaction Dynamics — Fixed Points, Hopf Bifurcations, and Excitability * Phase-plane analysis of two-variable reaction kinetics * Hopf bifurcation and the emergence of limit cycles * Mechanisms of excitability Lesson14: Reaction-Diffusion Systems 3 (Tanaka) Theory of Reaction–Diffusion Waves * Wave generation by diffusive spatial coupling * Pulse propagation in excitable media * Reflection, pinning, and breakup of waves Lesson15: Reaction-Diffusion Systems 4 (Tanaka) Spatiotemporal Order in Excitable Media * The Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction * Formation mechanisms of target and spiral waves The reports will be assigned by each teacher. You should answer both one of the problems of liquids and one of those of soft matter.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	The textbook and reference books will be indicated as required.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Text, Handouts, Microsoft Teams, moodle
(More Details)	Textbook, reference books, and PowerPoint
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Post-class Report
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Prepare and review for the subjects.
Requirements
Grading Method	Your grade will be determined on the following factors: Report 50% and in-class work 50%.
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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